10 bloggers were chosen as part of the NDP (National Day Parade) Engagement Team this year. After attending a cosy dinner with the ex-co and media events, finally came the day for us to go backstage! I had the backstage pass so I gave the pair of tickets to my parents who have never watched the NDP live. They were so happy! And that made me really happy!

We could choose to watch the actual preview show which happened on 4 August, but I chose to go for the 28 July slot instead as backstage access was only for 28 July. It’s been my dream since young to see how the backstage of the parade looks like. I’d imagined it to be very messy yet not disorganized, very noisy yet not rowdy, very exciting yet not nerve wrecking, small yet cosy.

But no. The backstage arena was actually large and spacious, taking up multiple storeys of a building, performers were practising, some getting their makeup done, others getting last minute instructions, many resting and getting food and drinks. It was all very… tranquil. LOL. Very unlike my preconceived and unreliable notion about how the NDP backstage would appear to be.

Below, another makeup section where more detailed makeup was required. This was for a butterfly look and we were wondering why they chose guys instead of girls to be butterflies when Rachell told us it was coz the weight of the costume ensemble required a lot of strength.